*growf!*

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

HOoooohoho! 'Tis a VERY busy day for me, so been picking at this to get it put together for the last few days, and hopefully will finish it before dark. XD

I just finished the icing for a banana gumdrop cake for tonight, and our dog, Shady, has finally come down from his spaztastic high about opening his gifts this morning. So, let me not waste your holiday time babbling away here - we'll get started! And no open for sales/commissions cause... it's Christmas. :P But seriously there aren't any. XD


Most Pawesome Picture
by Tag (aka Staggard): https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18606124/ (C4: sfw-ish, m/m)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18606187/ (close up!)

Why: Well.... duh... look at the picture! ! I don't think any other picture has had THIS much of a focus on loving a hunky set of toes and soles. Danny Dumal is the lucky guy getting all this personal time with Aojiroi Kitsune's big, gorgeous feet. Tag did an amazing job on this, even if it were just the main picture, but all those alternate views AND a close up... wow! Now this is one incredible Christmas gift to paw-lovers and pawsexuals. And through it all, the look on Danny's face is just so perfect. The idea was Danny's and Tag brought it beautifully to life. :) Thanks guys!!


CariFoxLeopard:

Busy for the holidays! So one of those rare no-Cari-pics Paw-Posts. :P


Keedot:
https://www.weasyl.com/submission/1169885/home (C4: sfw-ish, m/f)
(alt. link): https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18580623/

A dragon and his hyena lover in a playful, warm embrace. :) A very nice look at the females paws - really amazing detail (as always with Keedot's work).


AzuraTheFox:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18581490/ (C3: sfw-ish, m/m, micro)

You know... there are a lot worse fates than being fixed to the bottom of a nice sole. XD


Rokemi:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18582970/ (C4: nsfw, m)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18604579/ (C4: nsfw, f/f)

Two lovely pictures from Rokemi's on-going Iron Artist commissions (which she's still open for by the way) - really like the second one in particular with the big thick pads of the lovely ladies not to mention the warm affections they're showing.


Teaselbone:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18585740/ (C4: sfw-ish, m, macro)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18594953/ (C3: nsfw-ish, m/m/m, micro)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18604732/ (C3: sfw, m/m)

Lots of sketches goodies from Teaselderp! The last one in particular has some incredible looking soles!


Skye:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18586985/ (C4: nsfw-ish, f, ref.)

Updated ref sheet for Skye's hyena fursona - nice footpaw close-up. :)


Virus.exe:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18588663/ (C4: nsfw, m/m, charr!)

Because charr. Loki and Muddy during a little Legion down-time again. Lucky guys. :3


Higsby:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18589932/ (C4: nsfw, m/m)

Colourful characters enjoying a little bed-time together - views of all their paws to be seen! (yeah I know, quick and lame commentary but I'm trying to rush today, heh)


SorcererLance:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18591170/ (C3: sfw, f)

It's Sasha the shark kicking her feet up and relaxing! Nice big smooth soles.


3DiNoZ:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18592438/ (C3: nsfw, m/m)

Guilmon and Lostsoul involved in a wee bit of bum-love; good view of both of their soles.


Evil-Sprite:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Unawa.....gans-579826685 (C3: sfw-ish, m/f, macro)
(alt. link): https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18592796/

So here's the rare case of trying to warn a macro about where they're stepping via phone, only to get interrupted in the process! Oops. Honestly, doesn't look like that bad a fate. :3


Foxypaws:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18593842/ (C3 & C4: sfw-ish, m/m)

Maxx and Smawgy with their feet all nicely posed and restrained for some holiday fun! Maxx eager to oblige, of course, Smawgy... not so much. XD


ZP92:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/The-R.....ress-580070312 (C1: nsfw-ish, f)

The dangerously beautiful Abriika the sorceress with her gorgeous soles kicked up while reading in the library. (I am loving this on-going library thing with ZP, heh). Incredible sole wrinkles, beautifully shaped toes, pretty toe rings and one very gorgeously shaped upper sole (like... look at that area right under the toes - divine!). Think this is my favourite Abriika picture. :3


Anyare:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18595264/ (C4: nsfw, m/f)

Now that's a nice present - a nicely wrapped male gryphon! Such nice feet too.


BashBL-UX:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18596990/ (C4: nsfw, m/m)

Ayuke getting to enjoy the big warm feet of Crazyjump15's character while... also enjoying him. XD


Caroo:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18603607/ (C1/C2: sfw-ish, f)

Carine the kangaroo is about to have her pretty feet super-stimulated by one hell of an inventive contraption! While tickling is a big thing for me, a) these are nice feet, and b) I LOVE creativity like this.


TideKeeper:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18604033/ (C4/C5: sfw, m, macro)

This beautiful enormous guy is "The Shaper" - a demi-god. Very pretty picture and he sure has some gorgeous design and markings to him. Of course, also nice feet. :P


HappyToeAndSoles:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Last-One-579061332 (C1: sfw, rl-human)

Last picture to be posted for a while by H.T.A.S. as she's now deeply involved with school and work and doesn't have time for more. A very nice angled shot that shows her beautifully sized toes and big, padded upper sole.


Artist (re)Highlight:  VampireKitty!

(TC) VampireKitty - or just VK for short - was originally highlight just over a year ago on Dec. 16, back when the highlights were very simple things. I asked her if she would like to do it again for a proper highlight and she said sure! I am honoured and privileged that VK has become a very wonderful and close friend over the years, so the Q&A was a bit odd in that I'm asking the questions more for the benefit of the viewers than myself since I know the answers to many of them, heh, but still - as you'll see, VK is incredible in the depth and clarity of her answers to make the most detailed Artist Highlight thus far! Sit back an enjoy!

Main Site:
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/vampirekitty/

Alternative Sites:
https://www.weasyl.com/~Vampirekitty (rarely used)
https://frostbittenruins.deviantart.com/
http://quiethouroftherat.weebly.com/index.html

Work Samples:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15361043/ (sfw, m/f)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15793549/ (C4: nsfw, f/f, Sera!)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15813900/ (C4: nsfw, m/f)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/17880800/ (C4: nsfw, m/tf)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/16814395/ (C4: sfw, f, charr!)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/17064461/ (C4: sfw, m, charr!, po) - close up!

Some (live) Q&A

(TC) Welcome back to the Paw-Post VampireKitty! Thanks for being willing to do a re-highlight (much-needed in your case, I think). :) Also for not giving me cat-claws at the suggestion. :P So first off, most people who hit up your gallery will be quick to notice a vast amount of characters - just how many do you have anyway?

(VK) <_<.... you know if I could answer that, the answer would change within half a week. Most of my characters either aren't on FA or have very limited postings. Some have never been drawn and others are too personal to offer up to the judgement of others. If I gave a rough estimate though, well over 100 maybe even 200. Many of them are related to the interworks of personal writing or rp with friends. Then there's my GW2 characters. So essentially an ever increasing number that is best quantified as "Too many to count, but not enough to get sick of creating more."

(TC) You know... from just what I've had the privilege of seeing in the last year, I would not be surprised if that was on the light side, number-wise. XD Now... should not come as a surprise to anyone on this Post that you happen to draw really wonderful footpaws. While I might know all the answers here, for other's sake, can you explain what you think of paws personally?

(VK) Personally I find them quite an attractive form of feet. I tend not to care so much for anything other than the Paw-Mail's C4-C5 types unless it's animal specific however. This has a lot to do with animal characteristics. I have a heavy preference for feline paws, so many of the ones outside this are related to specific animals I also enjoy like rats for instance.

If I were to actually be my characters and indulge in such, I'd say I'm more so drawn to the allure of their shape and feel with the slightest bit of scent coming into play. Artwise I much prefer looking at realistic styles of paws that resemble the animal the character is based on. That being said, it takes a lot to please me and I'm a lot more likely to be drawn long term to a set of paws with a well thought out character and story behind it than a random quick glance, fave and move on set.

(TC) That is the most thorough answer ever. :D Agreed on the character details and background there - that plays SO much into it for me as well. So, you say you have a leaning towards feline footpaws - do you have a particular favourite type and does it lean more male or female?

(VK) Favorite type would honestly be those belonging to the big cats despite my tendency to draw the much smaller species all the time. They are just so chunky and soft looking. As for gender, not really. Male or female doesn't really much matter when it comes to paws for me. Though I typically have a lean towards male characters in general, I'm just as likely to enjoy looking at a nice set of paws on a female too.

(TC) Do charr count in that female category? ;)

(VK) Charr count in [b]every category available. Giant dragon kitties are more than okay in my book. Oddly enough a lot of my charr themselves don't have much interest in paws or having their own touched. Male charr are nice but females are by far my favorite charr to look at 95% of the time. Only thing I'd say I somewhat dislike about charr are the non-retractable claws but hey that's a minor fault in the feline category and a fun bonus in the charr species category.[/b]

(TC) Mmmf... agreed! Charr certainly push all the "right" buttons for me too. Perhaps the non-retractable claws are more of the "dragon" side of them. So let's hit the other side of paws - is there anything you -don't- like about footpaws (types, designs, etc)?

(VK) I don't really like the human feet with claws variation of footpaws. If I wanted to look at human feet, I'd be looking at humans instead of furs in my opinion. There are the rare occassions where they are exceptionally well drawn, but otherwise it's just a huge no. I also have a huge pet peeve against three toed paws, and I don't mean rotated to where one is hidden. I mean having animals like cats and dogs full frontal view and then noticing they're missing an entire toe. The only other dislikes that come to mind, come from that animal characteristic thing. Rabbits with paw pads when they're soles are entirely furred bothers me. Colors don't always bother me unless it's super clashing with the rest of the character or max saturation.

(TC) So realism details are important. So on the mention of human feet, does the love for paws translate at all into human feet?

(VK) Only a small fragment of it sadly and a lot of that is linked directly with my closeness to the person attached to the feet. I can still enjoy looking at some nicely decorated feet that haven't been destroyed by pointy toed shoes though :D

(TC) Agreed! Fortunately, there are some rare lovely ones out there. :) So, lets go more towards your art here in general; you are very quick to watch work. How long have you been working at your craft?

(VK) I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil, but more seriously I'd say I've been actually working at drawing for about 7 years now. I started really wanting to improve around 8th grade and made progress from there. My oldest digital artwork probably dates back to that point as well. Started dabbling with coloring lineart with a mouse until I eventually got a tablet. There is some cringe-worthily old stuff online here koyuki210899.deviantart.com if you guys want to see how far I've come.

(TC) That is a long time - which does explain how quickly and easily it comes to you. Another thing folks will notice in your work (if they can pry their eyes from the paws) is that you have a powerful knack for emotional expression. Is that something you feel is the centrepiece of the image?

(VK) It usually is in my case. I prefer to create character centered images the majority of the time so naturally emotions are something I focus on and often the whole point of a piece. :3 I'm drawn to emotional images and my faces were likely the first thing to prove because of it. Occasionally, I try to dabble in full out body expression where there's less focus on the faces.

(TC) And that does come across beautifully as well. In fact, people might be surprised to learn that you are also a writer; often crafting short back-stories for the images or even long stories for a whole set of lore. It's not as common you see someone who can both draw well AND write well. How long have you been doing the writing thing - as long as drawing?

(VK) I'd have to say writing has sort of an odd history for me. Up until middle school I hated writing but I did enjoy quite a bit of reading back then. Occasionally I would dredge up part of a fanfiction I'd never finish. In middle school however that changed when I joined a pet site that was highly centered around rp. I met great friends there and my natural love for creating characters (something I've had since a child) and stories came alive. For most of the early ears that's all I did in the way of writing but it was enough to spark an interest. Well eventually things started to die down there and a lot of people went off their separate ways. Having personally moved to a new state not long before meant I didn't have many to replace the sheer volume of creativity that provided.

You could dare say writing is likely what led me to become a furry though I do have ancient human characters from the beginning. I met some good friends during my stay in that state and they wanted to hear my stories just as much as I wanted to tell them, so I began writing and drawing at the same time. My writing was the far more private side of such as those who really know me could tell you my moral compass does not always align with arbitrary rules set out. Well my talent for it only grew over the years as I created more stories for myself and others. I still do today :3. Though I may never post a full story here for personal comfort level reasons, there are many images of mine with snippets of writing if not stories written just for them.

(TC) *grins* Answered like a writer! And YES you should definitely post some of your stuff - having been fortunate enough to see some, it's very enjoyable work. ^_^ Okay! One more question (and pretty much the usual last one - anything you would like to say to all the Paw-Post folks this Christmas?

(VK) Thanks for having me and enjoying my artwork on occasion :3. To those that wish they could draw and write better, NO ONE is stopping you. You just have to get off your butt and practice. I love you all. Now scroll back up and enjoy those feets. =^-^=

Thank you very much to VK for a long and awesome Christmas Highlight. ^_^ For the rest of you - go give VK a watch and check out her VAST gallery and scraps; there are so many amazing characters and images. Also be sure to check out the descriptions for each as there are often some lovely little snippets of story too!

Have a safe and happy holiday everyone!

TC